Aalberts' Strategy Delivers: Return to Growth Signals Turnaround

UTRECHT, NL – May 01, 2026 – Aalberts N.V. today announced a robust start to 2026, reporting a return to positive organic growth and improved profitability that suggests its long-term strategic initiatives are beginning to bear fruit. The Dutch industrial specialist posted first-quarter revenue of EUR 772 million, marking a 2.8% organic revenue increase compared to the same period last year—a significant reversal from recent trends.

The company's EBITA (earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization) reached EUR 109.7 million, yielding an improved EBITA margin of 14.2%. This performance, achieved despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, was driven by positive results across all three of its core business segments: Building, Industry, and Semicon.

CEO Stéphane Simonetta commented on the quarter's success in the official press release. “It is encouraging to see that our business development initiatives started to enable us to get back to positive organic growth, and that our operations excellence initiatives supported an improved EBITA margin in our three segments,” he stated.

A Decisive Reversal of Fortune

The first-quarter results represent a noteworthy turnaround for Aalberts, which had navigated a period of contraction through 2024 and 2025. The 2.8% organic growth in Q1 2026 stands in stark contrast to the organic revenue declines reported consistently over the previous two years.

For context, the company experienced a 3.3% organic revenue decline in the first quarter of 2025. This trend continued throughout that year, culminating in a full-year organic decline of 2.5% on revenue of EUR 3.1 billion for fiscal 2025. The year prior, 2024, also saw a 3.4% organic revenue decline.

Similarly, the EBITA margin of 14.2% for Q1 2026 marks a solid recovery. It is a significant improvement from the 13.6% margin reported in Q1 2025 and the 13.2% margin for the full 2025 fiscal year. While this figure still trails the 15.0% EBITA margin achieved in 2024, it signals that the company’s focus on operational excellence is successfully restoring profitability.

'thrive 2030' Strategy in Action

The positive momentum is being widely attributed to the disciplined execution of Aalberts' long-term strategic plan, 'thrive 2030'. This comprehensive roadmap is designed to drive profitable, sustainable growth by focusing on leadership positions in its three core end markets, optimizing its global portfolio, and relentlessly pursuing innovation.

The strategy's key pillars include:
* Market Leadership: Concentrating on high-growth potential within the Building, Industry, and Semicon sectors.
* Portfolio Optimization: Actively managing its business portfolio through strategic acquisitions and divestments to achieve a better balance across geographies and markets.
* Operational Excellence: Implementing programs to enhance efficiency, expand margins, and improve cash flow.

Simonetta’s comments underscore this connection, highlighting how both "business development initiatives" and "operations excellence initiatives" were direct contributors to the quarter's success. The 'thrive 2030' strategy sets ambitious long-term financial targets, including reaching over EUR 4.5 billion in revenue with an EBITA margin exceeding 18% by 2030. The Q1 2026 performance serves as an early, but crucial, indicator that the company is on the right path toward these goals.

Strategic Acquisitions Fueling Expansion

A key component of the 'thrive 2030' strategy is growth through targeted acquisitions, and Aalberts confirmed that three key purchases made in 2025 are already contributing positively to results. These acquisitions were carefully selected to rebalance the company's portfolio and strengthen its geographical footprint, particularly in North America and Southeast Asia.

The acquisitions include:
1. Paulo Products Company: A major US-based industrial heat treatment provider with approximately USD 105 million in annual revenue. This move significantly bolsters Aalberts' Industry segment and its thermal processing capabilities in the critical North American market.
2. Geo-Flo Corporation: A US leader in pumping systems for HVAC applications. While smaller, with around USD 15 million in revenue, this acquisition enhances the company’s hydronic flow control offerings within its Building segment and supports its push into sustainable building technologies in North America.
3. Grand Venture Technology (GVT): A Singapore-headquartered precision engineering firm with extensive operations in Malaysia and China. The acquisition of GVT, which generates around SGD 160 million annually, is a strategic play to capture growth in the high-tech semiconductor market in Southeast Asia.

"We continue the disciplined execution of our key initiatives, and I am pleased with the three acquisitions last year to rebalance our portfolio and geographical presence, as they are contributing positively to our results while integration is progressing well," Simonetta noted in his statement.

Confidence Amid Uncertainty

Aalberts delivered its strong quarter against a backdrop of what it termed "geopolitical uncertainties." The company's ability to mitigate these external risks and post growth speaks to its operational resilience and strategic positioning in markets driven by long-term secular trends like sustainability, digitalization, and supply chain regionalization.

The company's focus on "mission-critical technologies" aligns it with major growth areas, including energy-efficient building systems, advanced solutions for the semiconductor industry, and specialized industrial applications. Over 70% of the company's revenue is already linked to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), positioning it to capitalize on the global shift toward decarbonization and resource efficiency.

Further signaling management's confidence, Aalberts is actively executing a EUR 75 million share buyback program. In the first quarter alone, the company repurchased nearly one million shares for a total of EUR 31.3 million. This capital return strategy, funded by available cash, underscores a firm belief in the company’s intrinsic value and future prospects.

Looking ahead, Aalberts has expressed optimism. "Based on current market conditions we expect improvements on organic revenue growth and EBITA margin in 2026," the company stated, reinforcing its commitment to the strategic actions laid out in its 'thrive 2030' plan. This forward-looking confidence, backed by a strong quarterly performance, suggests Aalberts is successfully navigating a complex global landscape.